TENAHA, Texas (CNN) -- Roderick Daniels was traveling through East Texas in October 2007 when, he says, he was the victim of a highway robbery.
The Tennessee man says he was ordered to pull his car over and surrender his jewelry and $8,500 in cash that he had with him to buy a new car.
But Daniels couldn't go to the police to report the incident.
The men who stopped him were the police.
Daniels was stopped on U.S. Highway 59 outside Tenaha, near the Louisiana state line. Police said he was driving 37 mph in a 35 mph zone. They hauled him off to jail and threatened him with money-laundering charges -- but offered to release him if he signed papers forfeiting his property.
"I actually thought this was a joke," Daniels told CNN.
But he signed.
"To be honest, I was five, six hundred miles from home," he said. "I was petrified." Watch CNN's Gary Tuchman try to question officials »
Now Daniels and other motorists who have been stopped by Tenaha police are part of a lawsuit seeking to end what plaintiff's lawyer David Guillory calls a systematic fleecing of drivers passing through the town of about 1,000.
"I believe it is a shakedown. I believe it's a piracy operation," Guillory said.
George Bowers, Tenaha's longtime mayor, says his police follow the law. And through her lawyers, Shelby County District Attorney Lynda Russell denied any impropriety.
Texas law allows police to confiscate drug money and other personal property they believe are used in the commission of a crime. If no charges are filed or the person is acquitted, the property has to be returned. But Guillory's lawsuit states that Tenaha and surrounding Shelby County don't bother to return much of what they confiscate.
Jennifer Boatright and Ron Henderson said they agreed to forfeit their property after Russell threatened to have their children taken away.
Like Daniels, the couple says they were carrying a large amount of cash --- about $6,000 -- to buy a car. When they were stopped in Tenaha in 2007, Boatright said, Russell came to the Tenaha police station to berate her and threaten to separate the family.
"I said, 'If it's the money you want, you can take it, if that's what it takes to keep my children with me and not separate them from us. Take the money,' " she said.
The document Henderson signed, which bears Russell's signature, states that in exchange for forfeiting the cash, "no criminal charges shall be filed ... and our children shall not be turned over" to the state's child protective services agency.
Maryland resident Amanee Busbee said she also was threatened with losing custody of her child after being stopped in Tenaha with her fiancé and his business partner. They were headed to Houston with $50,000 to complete the purchase of a restaurant, she said.
"The police officer would say things to me like, 'Your son is going to child protective services because you are not saying what we need to hear,' " Busbee said.
Guillory, who practices in nearby Nacogdoches, Texas, estimates authorities in Tenaha seized $3 million between 2006 and 2008, and in about 150 cases -- virtually all of which involved African-American or Latino motorists -- the seizures were improper.
"They are disproportionately going after racial minorities," he said. "My take on the matter is that the police in Tenaha, Texas, were picking on and preying on people that were least likely to fight back."
Daniels told CNN that one of the officers who stopped him tried on some of his jewelry in front of him.
"They asked me, 'What you are doing with this ring on?' I said I had bought that ring. I paid good money for that ring," Daniels said. "He took the ring off my finger and put it on his finger and told me how did it look. He put on my jewelry."
Texas law states that the proceeds of any seizures can be used only for "official purposes" of district attorney offices and "for law-enforcement purposes" by police departments. According to public records obtained by CNN using open-records laws, an account funded by property forfeitures in Russell's office included $524 for a popcorn machine, $195 for candy for a poultry festival, and $400 for catering.
In addition, Russell donated money to the local chamber of commerce and a youth baseball league. A local Baptist church received two checks totaling $6,000.
And one check for $10,000 went to Barry Washington, a Tenaha police officer whose name has come up in several complaints by stopped motorists. The money was paid for "investigative costs," the records state.
Washington would not comment for this report but has denied all allegations in his answer to Guillory's lawsuit.
"This is under litigation. This is a lawsuit," he told CNN.
Russell refused requests for interviews at her office and at a fundraiser for a volunteer fire department in a nearby town, where she also sang. But in a written statement, her lawyers said she "has denied and continues to deny all substantive allegations set forth."
Russell "has used and continues to use prosecutorial discretion ... and is in compliance with Texas law, the Texas constitution, and the United States Constitution," the statement said.
Bowers, who has been Tenaha's mayor for 54 years, is also named in the lawsuit. But he said his employees "will follow the law."
"We try to hire the very best, best-trained, and we keep them up to date on the training," he said.
The attention paid to Tenaha has led to an effort by Texas lawmakers to tighten the state's forfeiture laws. A bill sponsored by state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, would bar authorities from using the kind of waivers Daniels, Henderson and Busbee were told to sign.
"To have law enforcement and the district attorney essentially be crooks, in my judgment, should infuriate and does infuriate everyone," Whitmire said. His bill has passed the Senate, where he is the longest-serving member, and is currently before the House of Representatives.
Busbee, Boatright and Henderson were able to reclaim their property after hiring lawyers. But Daniels is still out his $8,500.
"To this day, I don't understand why they took my belongings off me," he said.
Showing posts with label stupid police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stupid police. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
14-Year-Old Charged with Child Porn
How can they accuse a child of child porn when the said pictures are of themselves? They don't have a charge for that so they will label her a pedophile?
TRENTON, N.J. -- A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com -- charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.
The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail.
MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off a state task force, which alerted the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.
The office investigated for a month and discovered the Clifton resident had posted the "very explicit" photos of herself, sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.
"We consider this case a wake-up call to parents," Maer said. The girl posted the photos because "she wanted her boyfriend to see them," he said.
It is not a crime to view the photos, Maer said, but it is illegal to download them. Authorities are looking at additional arrests but have no plans to charge people who accidentally viewed the photographs, such as any of friends who have access to the girl's profile.
Investigators are looking at individuals who "knowingly" committed a crime, he said, declining to comment further because the case is still being investigated.
The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother's custody.
If convicted of the distribution charge, the girl would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan's Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram.
Some observers -- including the New Jersey mother behind the creation of Megan's Law -- are criticizing the move to prosecute teens who send racy text messages or post illicit photos.
Maureen Kanka -- whose daughter, Megan, became the law's namesake after she was raped and killed at age 7 in 1994 by a twice-convicted sex offender -- blasted authorities for charging the 14-year-old girl.
The teen needs help, not legal trouble, she said.
"This shouldn't fall under Megan's Law in any way, shape or form. She should have an intervention and counseling, because the only person she exploited was herself."
The teens are making poor choices by posting nude images but aren't pedophiles, she said.
"Megan's Law ... it's for sex offenders," Kanka said. "These kids aren't sex offenders."
Called "sexting" when it's done by cell phone, teenagers' habit of sending sexually suggestive photos of themselves and others to one another is a nationwide problem that has confounded parents, school administrators and law enforcers.
Prosecutors in states including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin have tried stop it by charging teens who send and receive the pictures.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, a prosecutor recently threatened to file child porn charges against three teenage girls who authorities say took racy cell-phone pictures that ended up on classmates' cell phones.
Milgram, the attorney general, could not recall another case in New Jersey in which a youth was charged with child porn for posting photos of themselves to a social networking site. She cautioned parents to get on those sites and monitor what their kids are talking about and posting.
"Unfortunately, youth don't have the same judgment as adults," she said, "and often, adults don't have the same technical savvy as the youth."
TRENTON, N.J. -- A 14-year-old New Jersey girl has been accused of child pornography after posting nearly 30 explicit nude pictures of herself on MySpace.com -- charges that could force her to register as a sex offender if convicted.
The case comes as prosecutors nationwide pursue child pornography cases resulting from kids sending nude photos to one another over cell phones and e-mail.
MySpace would not comment on the New Jersey investigation, but the company has a team that reviews its network for inappropriate images. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off a state task force, which alerted the Passaic County Sheriff's Office.
The office investigated for a month and discovered the Clifton resident had posted the "very explicit" photos of herself, sheriff's spokesman Bill Maer said Thursday.
"We consider this case a wake-up call to parents," Maer said. The girl posted the photos because "she wanted her boyfriend to see them," he said.
It is not a crime to view the photos, Maer said, but it is illegal to download them. Authorities are looking at additional arrests but have no plans to charge people who accidentally viewed the photographs, such as any of friends who have access to the girl's profile.
Investigators are looking at individuals who "knowingly" committed a crime, he said, declining to comment further because the case is still being investigated.
The teen, whose name has not been released because of her age, was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. She was released to her mother's custody.
If convicted of the distribution charge, the girl would be forced to register with the state as a sex offender under Megan's Law, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram.
Some observers -- including the New Jersey mother behind the creation of Megan's Law -- are criticizing the move to prosecute teens who send racy text messages or post illicit photos.
Maureen Kanka -- whose daughter, Megan, became the law's namesake after she was raped and killed at age 7 in 1994 by a twice-convicted sex offender -- blasted authorities for charging the 14-year-old girl.
The teen needs help, not legal trouble, she said.
"This shouldn't fall under Megan's Law in any way, shape or form. She should have an intervention and counseling, because the only person she exploited was herself."
The teens are making poor choices by posting nude images but aren't pedophiles, she said.
"Megan's Law ... it's for sex offenders," Kanka said. "These kids aren't sex offenders."
Called "sexting" when it's done by cell phone, teenagers' habit of sending sexually suggestive photos of themselves and others to one another is a nationwide problem that has confounded parents, school administrators and law enforcers.
Prosecutors in states including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin have tried stop it by charging teens who send and receive the pictures.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, a prosecutor recently threatened to file child porn charges against three teenage girls who authorities say took racy cell-phone pictures that ended up on classmates' cell phones.
Milgram, the attorney general, could not recall another case in New Jersey in which a youth was charged with child porn for posting photos of themselves to a social networking site. She cautioned parents to get on those sites and monitor what their kids are talking about and posting.
"Unfortunately, youth don't have the same judgment as adults," she said, "and often, adults don't have the same technical savvy as the youth."
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Profit From Starving Criminals
A northern Alabama sheriff was in federal custody Thursday after a judge ruled he purposely fed inmates skimpy meals so he could make money from an unusual system that lets sheriffs turn a profit on their jail kitchens.
Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett testified at a Wednesday court hearing that he made $212,000 over three years by cheaply feeding prisoners — every cent of it legal under a Depression-era state law and reported on his tax forms as income.
But U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon ordered federal marshals to arrest Bartlett after hearing a string of skinny prisoners testify they were served paper-thin bologna, bloody chicken and cold grits in the north Alabama county's jail.
"He makes money by failing to spend the allocated funds for food for the inmates," Clemon ruled after a daylong hearing in a lawsuit filed by prisoners over jail conditions.
Ten prisoners testified that they were so hungry after meals they are forced to spend hundreds of dollars at a for-profit store inside the jail for junk food like oatmeal pies and chips.
"We had an apple on Christmas, and I think we've had them one other time," said Clifton Goodwin, who's been in Bartlett's jail for 15 months.
Alice Hines, who has two sons in the jail on drug charges, said she gives them all the money she can — $50 sometimes, $100 others — to buy food from the jail store so they won't go hungry. Prisoners are even forced to buy basics like salt, pepper and ketchup to spice up bland meals.
"You're supposed to pay for your crime, but good God, feed them," said Hines.
Bartlett's lawyer, Donald Rhea, said the sheriff would be incarcerated in his own jail, but the department declined comment on Bartlett's whereabouts. The U.S. marshal's service did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Bartlett looked stunned as Clemon ordered him into custody. A lawyer for prisoners called his arrest "extraordinary."
Sheriffs in 55 of Alabama's 67 counties operate under a Depression-era system allowing them to make money operating their jail kitchens. The state pays sheriffs $1.75 a day for each prisoner they house and lets the elected officers keep any profits they can generate. Bartlett said he also received money from the county and the U.S. government for housing federal prisoners.
According to testimony, Alabama's ethics commission cleared Bartlett of a complaint in December, turning aside allegations that he improperly used his office for personal gain by profiting from inmate meals. The ethics commission cited the state law allowing the practice and a previous legal opinion from Alabama's attorney general.
Clemon's order dealt only with Morgan County, but the longtime head of the Alabama Sheriff's Association said its impact will be felt around the state since counties lack money to feed prisoners and state budgets are stretched thin.
"It's going to be real far-reaching. It's going to affect a lot of counties other than this one," said association executive director Bobby Timmons.
Bartlett testified he made a $212,000 profit over the last three years to supplement his annual salary of about $64,000. Bartlett said last year's profit was $95,000 — almost half of the total jail feeding budget of about $203,000 for about 300 prisoners. Bartlett said profits from the jail store are used to pay for equipment and training and don't go into his pocket.
Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett testified at a Wednesday court hearing that he made $212,000 over three years by cheaply feeding prisoners — every cent of it legal under a Depression-era state law and reported on his tax forms as income.
But U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon ordered federal marshals to arrest Bartlett after hearing a string of skinny prisoners testify they were served paper-thin bologna, bloody chicken and cold grits in the north Alabama county's jail.
"He makes money by failing to spend the allocated funds for food for the inmates," Clemon ruled after a daylong hearing in a lawsuit filed by prisoners over jail conditions.
Ten prisoners testified that they were so hungry after meals they are forced to spend hundreds of dollars at a for-profit store inside the jail for junk food like oatmeal pies and chips.
"We had an apple on Christmas, and I think we've had them one other time," said Clifton Goodwin, who's been in Bartlett's jail for 15 months.
Alice Hines, who has two sons in the jail on drug charges, said she gives them all the money she can — $50 sometimes, $100 others — to buy food from the jail store so they won't go hungry. Prisoners are even forced to buy basics like salt, pepper and ketchup to spice up bland meals.
"You're supposed to pay for your crime, but good God, feed them," said Hines.
Bartlett's lawyer, Donald Rhea, said the sheriff would be incarcerated in his own jail, but the department declined comment on Bartlett's whereabouts. The U.S. marshal's service did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Bartlett looked stunned as Clemon ordered him into custody. A lawyer for prisoners called his arrest "extraordinary."
Sheriffs in 55 of Alabama's 67 counties operate under a Depression-era system allowing them to make money operating their jail kitchens. The state pays sheriffs $1.75 a day for each prisoner they house and lets the elected officers keep any profits they can generate. Bartlett said he also received money from the county and the U.S. government for housing federal prisoners.
According to testimony, Alabama's ethics commission cleared Bartlett of a complaint in December, turning aside allegations that he improperly used his office for personal gain by profiting from inmate meals. The ethics commission cited the state law allowing the practice and a previous legal opinion from Alabama's attorney general.
Clemon's order dealt only with Morgan County, but the longtime head of the Alabama Sheriff's Association said its impact will be felt around the state since counties lack money to feed prisoners and state budgets are stretched thin.
"It's going to be real far-reaching. It's going to affect a lot of counties other than this one," said association executive director Bobby Timmons.
Bartlett testified he made a $212,000 profit over the last three years to supplement his annual salary of about $64,000. Bartlett said last year's profit was $95,000 — almost half of the total jail feeding budget of about $203,000 for about 300 prisoners. Bartlett said profits from the jail store are used to pay for equipment and training and don't go into his pocket.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Man Sues After "POLICE" T-Shirt Arrest
A Belleville Police officer arrested a St. Charles man for wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the word "POLICE."
Now, Adam C. Weinstein, of St. Charles, has sued the department for what he calls a violation of his constitutional rights.
According to police documents, Weinstein was arrested in 2006 outside a bar in Belleville for "impersonating officers." He was wearing a black t-shirt with the word police striped across the front and back under a sweater. The t-shirt became exposed when he removed the sweater because he was hot.
"Those t-shirts are a sign of solidarity," said Howard A. Shalowitz, an attorney representing Weinstein. "How many people wear NYPD caps? Are they impersonating police?"
According to the lawsuit, a waitress told Weinstein that some police officers wanted to speak with him outside the bar. Weinstein went outside, he said, and was greeted by Belleville Police Officer Jeff Vernatti.
Vernatti, Weinstein alleges, asked him for his police credentials. Weinstein says he told the officer he didn’t have any credentials because he wasn’t a police officer.
That’s when, according to Weinstein, the police officer started screaming curse words and became physically and verbally abusive. Weinstein says he was cuffed and later released by the officer, but made to take the t-shirt off while standing in the cold.
Weinstein was ticketed for impersonating a police officer, but it was later dismissed. The ticket only alleges Weinstein wore the t-shirt.
"I’m afraid to go to Belleville," Weinstein said in an interview. According to the lawsuit, Weinstein is a firefighter.
Weinstein said he bought two of the shirts--one for him, one for his wife--at Leon’s Uniform Company in St. Louis while buying supplies for firefighting.
The lawsuit was filed last week in St. Clair County. Vernatti and the city of Bellevile are named as defendents.
In 2005, Vernatti and the city of Belleville were sued for allegedly tasering a man. That case was later settled before going to trial.
Belleville Mayor Mark W. Eckert declined to comment through an aide. A spokesperson for the Belleville Police also declined to comment. Vernatti couldn’t be reached for comment.
Steven Beckett, professor and director of trial advocacy at the University of Illinois’ law school, said the arrest may be a violation of Weinstein’s First Amendment rights.
"A t-shirt alone isn’t enough to arrest someone," Beckett said. "There must be some overt act."
Beckett added: "The police complaint on its face is inconsistent with the First Amendment."
Now, Adam C. Weinstein, of St. Charles, has sued the department for what he calls a violation of his constitutional rights.
According to police documents, Weinstein was arrested in 2006 outside a bar in Belleville for "impersonating officers." He was wearing a black t-shirt with the word police striped across the front and back under a sweater. The t-shirt became exposed when he removed the sweater because he was hot.
"Those t-shirts are a sign of solidarity," said Howard A. Shalowitz, an attorney representing Weinstein. "How many people wear NYPD caps? Are they impersonating police?"
According to the lawsuit, a waitress told Weinstein that some police officers wanted to speak with him outside the bar. Weinstein went outside, he said, and was greeted by Belleville Police Officer Jeff Vernatti.
Vernatti, Weinstein alleges, asked him for his police credentials. Weinstein says he told the officer he didn’t have any credentials because he wasn’t a police officer.
That’s when, according to Weinstein, the police officer started screaming curse words and became physically and verbally abusive. Weinstein says he was cuffed and later released by the officer, but made to take the t-shirt off while standing in the cold.
Weinstein was ticketed for impersonating a police officer, but it was later dismissed. The ticket only alleges Weinstein wore the t-shirt.
"I’m afraid to go to Belleville," Weinstein said in an interview. According to the lawsuit, Weinstein is a firefighter.
Weinstein said he bought two of the shirts--one for him, one for his wife--at Leon’s Uniform Company in St. Louis while buying supplies for firefighting.
The lawsuit was filed last week in St. Clair County. Vernatti and the city of Bellevile are named as defendents.
In 2005, Vernatti and the city of Belleville were sued for allegedly tasering a man. That case was later settled before going to trial.
Belleville Mayor Mark W. Eckert declined to comment through an aide. A spokesperson for the Belleville Police also declined to comment. Vernatti couldn’t be reached for comment.
Steven Beckett, professor and director of trial advocacy at the University of Illinois’ law school, said the arrest may be a violation of Weinstein’s First Amendment rights.
"A t-shirt alone isn’t enough to arrest someone," Beckett said. "There must be some overt act."
Beckett added: "The police complaint on its face is inconsistent with the First Amendment."
Friday, December 26, 2008
Shooting of a 3 Year Old Happens Underneath a Crime Cam
Not one suspect and it happened under a crime camera? Then why are you invading people's privacy for safety when you can't even keep these people safe?
A single shell casing remained on the ground this morning at the scene of a Christmas night shooting in the 3800 block of Annunciation Street.
Police say shortly before 9 p.m., between 5 and 10 young men shot into a car in the parking lot of an apartment complex run by the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
A three-year-old boy in the car with his grandmother, aunt and uncle was the only one wounded in the attack.
His cousin who did not to give his name, the toddler is expected to make a full recovery.
"He's doing all right. He got hit in the arm and it came out and grazed him on the chest."
A neighbor says the little boy lives with his extended family in an upstairs apartment. She called the shooting is upsetting and scary. "It could have been a visitor coming to see me. We really don't know what to do."
Joe LaPrieur lives down the street and says he heard six gunshots. "Them boys, man, I'm going to tell you the truth, bro, they got a lot of drugs around here, man," said LaPrieur. "I'm just sick of this place, man."
The shooting happened right underneath one of the much maligned city crime cameras. According to the NOPD, the camera just happened to be pointed in the complete opposition direction. Neighbors aren't surprised.
"(Criminals) don't worry about that crime camera, man," said LaPrieur.
"What good is it to be pointed in that direction when crime and the people that frequent here, hangs in this block," said the other neighbor. "This is basically a project. This could be considered a project. It's just two apartment buildings."
The gunmen ran off after the shooting. Right now, police have few leads and no suspects. They're not sure if any of the three adults in the car was the intended target.
The wounded little boy was last listed in good condition at Children Hospital.
A single shell casing remained on the ground this morning at the scene of a Christmas night shooting in the 3800 block of Annunciation Street.
Police say shortly before 9 p.m., between 5 and 10 young men shot into a car in the parking lot of an apartment complex run by the Housing Authority of New Orleans.
A three-year-old boy in the car with his grandmother, aunt and uncle was the only one wounded in the attack.
His cousin who did not to give his name, the toddler is expected to make a full recovery.
"He's doing all right. He got hit in the arm and it came out and grazed him on the chest."
A neighbor says the little boy lives with his extended family in an upstairs apartment. She called the shooting is upsetting and scary. "It could have been a visitor coming to see me. We really don't know what to do."
Joe LaPrieur lives down the street and says he heard six gunshots. "Them boys, man, I'm going to tell you the truth, bro, they got a lot of drugs around here, man," said LaPrieur. "I'm just sick of this place, man."
The shooting happened right underneath one of the much maligned city crime cameras. According to the NOPD, the camera just happened to be pointed in the complete opposition direction. Neighbors aren't surprised.
"(Criminals) don't worry about that crime camera, man," said LaPrieur.
"What good is it to be pointed in that direction when crime and the people that frequent here, hangs in this block," said the other neighbor. "This is basically a project. This could be considered a project. It's just two apartment buildings."
The gunmen ran off after the shooting. Right now, police have few leads and no suspects. They're not sure if any of the three adults in the car was the intended target.
The wounded little boy was last listed in good condition at Children Hospital.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Utah First State to Ban Malt Alcoholic Beverages
Utah's supply of flavored malt beverages will likely be exhausted in a few weeks as manufacturers decide whether to comply with labeling rules intended to make it clear the products contain alcohol.
Utah has some of the strictest liquor laws in the country, a byproduct of its large Mormon population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counsels members not to drink alcohol, and the church is highly influential among state lawmakers on alcohol policy.
On Wednesday, Utah will be the only state to ban the sale of fruity alcoholic drinks at grocery stores and convenience stores in an effort to keep them from minors. Those drinks also must have new state-approved labels on the front of the product that contain capitalized letters in bold type telling consumers the drinks contain alcohol and at what percentage.
So far, no new labels have been approved. Utah Department of Alcholic Beverage Control spokeswoman Sharon Mackay said the state's limited supply of those drinks will likely be gone in a few weeks.
Flavored malt beverages are already sold in state liquor stores, but they have a higher alcohol content than what has been allowed in grocery stores. They also have the same labels found in the rest of the country.
Some manufacturers have already decided it's not worth it to produce new labels just for Utah.
"Thanks to the Legislature, Smirnoff Ice is no longer available in Utah," said Zsoka McDonald, spokeswoman for Diageo, one of the world's largest multinational beer, wine and spirits firms. "It's just not cost effective."
Mackay said the department won't reorder any of the flavored malt beverages it has in stock until manufacturers comply with new labeling requirements.
"Many manufacturers, frankly, have not decided whether it's worth carrying the product to make changes on the labels," Mackay said. "It's anybody's guess which ones will be carried."
Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman said banning products like Zima, Smirnoff Ice and Seagram's Fuzzy Navel from grocery stores would harm Utah's image, but agreed to it in exchange for increasing the amount of liquor allowed in shots and standard cocktails to 1.5 ounces, up from 1 ounce.
Utah has some of the strictest liquor laws in the country, a byproduct of its large Mormon population. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counsels members not to drink alcohol, and the church is highly influential among state lawmakers on alcohol policy.
On Wednesday, Utah will be the only state to ban the sale of fruity alcoholic drinks at grocery stores and convenience stores in an effort to keep them from minors. Those drinks also must have new state-approved labels on the front of the product that contain capitalized letters in bold type telling consumers the drinks contain alcohol and at what percentage.
So far, no new labels have been approved. Utah Department of Alcholic Beverage Control spokeswoman Sharon Mackay said the state's limited supply of those drinks will likely be gone in a few weeks.
Flavored malt beverages are already sold in state liquor stores, but they have a higher alcohol content than what has been allowed in grocery stores. They also have the same labels found in the rest of the country.
Some manufacturers have already decided it's not worth it to produce new labels just for Utah.
"Thanks to the Legislature, Smirnoff Ice is no longer available in Utah," said Zsoka McDonald, spokeswoman for Diageo, one of the world's largest multinational beer, wine and spirits firms. "It's just not cost effective."
Mackay said the department won't reorder any of the flavored malt beverages it has in stock until manufacturers comply with new labeling requirements.
"Many manufacturers, frankly, have not decided whether it's worth carrying the product to make changes on the labels," Mackay said. "It's anybody's guess which ones will be carried."
Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman said banning products like Zima, Smirnoff Ice and Seagram's Fuzzy Navel from grocery stores would harm Utah's image, but agreed to it in exchange for increasing the amount of liquor allowed in shots and standard cocktails to 1.5 ounces, up from 1 ounce.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Police Arrest 11 for Spreading Rumors About AIG
Hong Kong police said Friday they have arrested 11 people in connection with a forged letter that claimed troubled U.S. insurance giant American International Group Inc. was selling its Asian subsidiary.
Rival insurer MassMutual Asia Ltd. acknowledged that the suspects were its agents and managers and staff hired by them. However, it denied in a statement that the company was involved in the case and said it would cooperate in the police investigation.
The letter, which was printed on company letterhead and claimed to be from the customer service department, surfaced Wednesday when local subsidiary AIA Hong Kong notified police and issued a statement calling it "totally fraudulent" and having "no basis in fact."
AIA Hong Kong said some customers received the letter but it didn't know exactly how many.
Security chief Ambrose Lee said two men were arrested Thursday for involvement in the case, while superintendent Ho Ying-foo said officers arrested nine more people on Friday.
The 11 people were being detained for investigation, Ho said. No charges have been filed.
"We have reasons to believe that some forged documents have been used," Ho told reporters.
AIG, the world's largest insurer, escaped bankruptcy last week following a pledge by the U.S. Federal Reserve to offer a two-year, $85 billion loan to prop up the company. But thousands of nervous policyholders in Hong Kong and Singapore still chose to cash their policies out.
Since the global financial crisis erupted last year, investors have been sensitive to any negative rumors about financial institutions.
On Wednesday and Thursday, hundreds of customers swarmed mid-sized lender Bank of East Asia offices in Hong Kong and Singapore after an unconfirmed rumor questioned the bank's stability.
MassMutual Asia Ltd. is a subsidiary of U.S.-based MassMutual Financial Group.
Rival insurer MassMutual Asia Ltd. acknowledged that the suspects were its agents and managers and staff hired by them. However, it denied in a statement that the company was involved in the case and said it would cooperate in the police investigation.
The letter, which was printed on company letterhead and claimed to be from the customer service department, surfaced Wednesday when local subsidiary AIA Hong Kong notified police and issued a statement calling it "totally fraudulent" and having "no basis in fact."
AIA Hong Kong said some customers received the letter but it didn't know exactly how many.
Security chief Ambrose Lee said two men were arrested Thursday for involvement in the case, while superintendent Ho Ying-foo said officers arrested nine more people on Friday.
The 11 people were being detained for investigation, Ho said. No charges have been filed.
"We have reasons to believe that some forged documents have been used," Ho told reporters.
AIG, the world's largest insurer, escaped bankruptcy last week following a pledge by the U.S. Federal Reserve to offer a two-year, $85 billion loan to prop up the company. But thousands of nervous policyholders in Hong Kong and Singapore still chose to cash their policies out.
Since the global financial crisis erupted last year, investors have been sensitive to any negative rumors about financial institutions.
On Wednesday and Thursday, hundreds of customers swarmed mid-sized lender Bank of East Asia offices in Hong Kong and Singapore after an unconfirmed rumor questioned the bank's stability.
MassMutual Asia Ltd. is a subsidiary of U.S.-based MassMutual Financial Group.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Police May Stop Responding To Some Crimes
Maybe if they didn't waste resources locking up people who like to get high, maybe they have more money!
PALM BAY, Fla. -- A budget crunch in Palm Bay could mean city residents who forget to secure car doors or close garages will get only a case number and nothing in terms of a visit by patrol officers if something is stolen.
The possible policy revision is part of a wider cost-cutting look at the Palm Bay Police Department's $20 million annual budget, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
"We're looking very seriously at the types of calls we would go to," Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said. "Still, about 85 to 90 percent of the people who've had their cars broken into left the car doors open. But, obviously, if it's an actual break-in, we'll respond."
The potential move is seen as an unusual step.
Other surrounding agencies -- such as Melbourne Police Department -- continue to respond to similar vehicle break-in calls.
Berger, however, pointed out that his agency has been hit hard by higher fuel costs and a cut in revenue. Earlier this year, Berger implemented a number of cost-saving efforts, including a no-idling policy for patrol cars.
"Certainly, Amendment 1 had an impact," Berger said, referring to the sweeping, statewide property-tax ballot item voters approved earlier this year. "The big promise was that it wouldn't affect public safety, but it has."
The department likely will lose four police officer positions -- all held for officers either working or serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Those officers will have their jobs when they return, but we're having to keep those positions vacant," Berger said.
Also under review will be whether officers who take home marked patrol cars will need to pay for their own gas or reimburse the city about 50 cents for every mile driven away from work.
Berger said he also is working hard to keep the department's nontaxpayer-funded programs running, including its DNA database program that uses officers to collect blood, saliva and other biological evidence at crime scenes.
PALM BAY, Fla. -- A budget crunch in Palm Bay could mean city residents who forget to secure car doors or close garages will get only a case number and nothing in terms of a visit by patrol officers if something is stolen.
The possible policy revision is part of a wider cost-cutting look at the Palm Bay Police Department's $20 million annual budget, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
"We're looking very seriously at the types of calls we would go to," Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger said. "Still, about 85 to 90 percent of the people who've had their cars broken into left the car doors open. But, obviously, if it's an actual break-in, we'll respond."
The potential move is seen as an unusual step.
Other surrounding agencies -- such as Melbourne Police Department -- continue to respond to similar vehicle break-in calls.
Berger, however, pointed out that his agency has been hit hard by higher fuel costs and a cut in revenue. Earlier this year, Berger implemented a number of cost-saving efforts, including a no-idling policy for patrol cars.
"Certainly, Amendment 1 had an impact," Berger said, referring to the sweeping, statewide property-tax ballot item voters approved earlier this year. "The big promise was that it wouldn't affect public safety, but it has."
The department likely will lose four police officer positions -- all held for officers either working or serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Those officers will have their jobs when they return, but we're having to keep those positions vacant," Berger said.
Also under review will be whether officers who take home marked patrol cars will need to pay for their own gas or reimburse the city about 50 cents for every mile driven away from work.
Berger said he also is working hard to keep the department's nontaxpayer-funded programs running, including its DNA database program that uses officers to collect blood, saliva and other biological evidence at crime scenes.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Charges Dismissed in Hurricane Katrina Bridge Shootings
A state district judge has dismissed all charges against six officers and a former officer accused in two deadly shootings at a New Orleans bridge in the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina.
The shootings, on September 4, 2005, left two men dead and four other people severely wounded.
Investigators said police fired shots only after being shot at first.
The officers were indicted in 2006. Four of them were facing first-degree murder charges. All seven officers were facing attempted murder charges.
The shootings, on September 4, 2005, left two men dead and four other people severely wounded.
Investigators said police fired shots only after being shot at first.
The officers were indicted in 2006. Four of them were facing first-degree murder charges. All seven officers were facing attempted murder charges.
Tazers See Their Day in Court
Click here to view the lawsuit filed by attorney Carol Powell Lexing-- who is representing the family of Baron Scooter Pikes. Pikes is the Winnfield man who was tased by police while in custody back in January. Pikes died and the story has been gaining momentum since then.This lawsuit names several parties related to the taser death, including the officers involved in the incident, The City of Winnfield and the manufacturer of the taser.
Attorney Carol Powell Lexing says she wants justice for the son of Baron Scooter Pikes-- and his mother.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
More Police Brutality
Excessive force? Amazing how cops would allow such behavior to endanger the arrest? They do not like it when you challenge their power in any way.
11 Year Old Girl Tasered At An Elementary School?
WTF is wrong with us? More and more we are just becoming a violent evil nation. Next we will taze those babies when they cry at night. Teach those damn babies.
Cop Fired After Demanding Free Starbucks Latte
A Daytona Beach, Fla., police officer was fired for demanding free coffee from a Starbucks and threatening to respond slowly if employees didn't give him a free latte.
Although Starbucks has a policy of giving police officers free regular coffee, it doesn't hand out specialty coffees without charge.
Lt. Major Garvin, denied the charges, but during an internal affairs investigation he recently failed a polygraph test. The department decided to fire Garvin who has 15-years of experience.
Although Starbucks has a policy of giving police officers free regular coffee, it doesn't hand out specialty coffees without charge.
Lt. Major Garvin, denied the charges, but during an internal affairs investigation he recently failed a polygraph test. The department decided to fire Garvin who has 15-years of experience.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America
No-Knock Raids - A special report on the militarization of law enforcement and the dramatic rise in the use of paramilitary police units for routine police work.
That's some background information that you might appreciate.
The Calvo family isn't the first...and it won't be the last. Your family could be next. My family could be next.
Law enforcement agencies don't just kill innocent dogs in such 'raids.' Every year, more than 300 innocent Americans are killed and/or severely injured by law enforcement agents in these "mistaken" raids. The lives of thousands of other innocents are permanently disrupted, their reputations and livelihoods damaged beyond repair. Most of these SWAT teams are breaking down doors to serve warants for non-violent crimes. They're serving a simple bench warrant. Most of these SWAT teams are not breaking down the doors of violent criminals such as murderers, armed robbers, rapists or even child molesters. Federal, state and local governments have by-passed the Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act and have militarized Federal, state and local 'civilian' police departments.
Be assured that more than one family in your state has had this happen to them, which can be said of every state in the Union. Had Mayor Calvo not been who he was, living where he lived, and had he not known exactly what to do and say to protect his rights, you would have read and heard an entirely different story from the media, if you had read or heard about it at all.
Imagine more than a dozen Waco or Ruby Ridge-type events happening each and every day in America...and you'll have a grasp of the reality of what 'freedom' in contemporary America truly means.
This is not an issue about left vs right, Republican vs Democrat or religion vs atheism. This is not about race or nationality or even about the poor vs the wealthy. This is about Freedom.
Governments are about control and tyranny. Aside from controlling you, governments don't care who you are. The bigger the government, the worse the tyranny, the worse its abuse of those whom it is sworn to protect and serve..
- Warren "Bones" Bonesteel
Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America
http://www.cato.org/raidmap
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/balko_whitepaper_2006.pdf
That's some background information that you might appreciate.
The Calvo family isn't the first...and it won't be the last. Your family could be next. My family could be next.
Law enforcement agencies don't just kill innocent dogs in such 'raids.' Every year, more than 300 innocent Americans are killed and/or severely injured by law enforcement agents in these "mistaken" raids. The lives of thousands of other innocents are permanently disrupted, their reputations and livelihoods damaged beyond repair. Most of these SWAT teams are breaking down doors to serve warants for non-violent crimes. They're serving a simple bench warrant. Most of these SWAT teams are not breaking down the doors of violent criminals such as murderers, armed robbers, rapists or even child molesters. Federal, state and local governments have by-passed the Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act and have militarized Federal, state and local 'civilian' police departments.
Be assured that more than one family in your state has had this happen to them, which can be said of every state in the Union. Had Mayor Calvo not been who he was, living where he lived, and had he not known exactly what to do and say to protect his rights, you would have read and heard an entirely different story from the media, if you had read or heard about it at all.
Imagine more than a dozen Waco or Ruby Ridge-type events happening each and every day in America...and you'll have a grasp of the reality of what 'freedom' in contemporary America truly means.
This is not an issue about left vs right, Republican vs Democrat or religion vs atheism. This is not about race or nationality or even about the poor vs the wealthy. This is about Freedom.
Governments are about control and tyranny. Aside from controlling you, governments don't care who you are. The bigger the government, the worse the tyranny, the worse its abuse of those whom it is sworn to protect and serve..
- Warren "Bones" Bonesteel
Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America
http://www.cato.org/raidmap
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/balko_whitepaper_2006.pdf
Friday, August 08, 2008
Stupid Cops
I never understood with radios and helicopters, why it is necessary for the police to chase someone and make them run. If they did not chase the individual and kept a tail on him, most of these high speed chases would not end like this.
Watch as the ignorant cop is the one who starts the fire by smashing his car in to the suspects car, pushing it in to the gas pump. Why? Why does he have to hit the car and push it in to the gas pumps and start a fire? How ignorant do you have to be to become a police officer?
My only conclusion is that this is what happens when you obtain power...you lose all reasonable thinking skills.
Watch as the ignorant cop is the one who starts the fire by smashing his car in to the suspects car, pushing it in to the gas pump. Why? Why does he have to hit the car and push it in to the gas pumps and start a fire? How ignorant do you have to be to become a police officer?
My only conclusion is that this is what happens when you obtain power...you lose all reasonable thinking skills.
Friday, September 21, 2007
This Just Is Not Right.....
Can you say brutality?
Police taser wheelchair-bound black woman to death
Police taser wheelchair-bound black woman to death
And its not becoming an authoritative / police state? The state has all the power anymore to do what they want....especially when the public stays quiet.
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